Aretha Franklin will no longer sing at Whitney Houston's funeral

Topics: Music

Aretha Franklin performs during Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular at the United Center on May 17, 2011, in Chicago.

(Credit: Getty Images)

(CBS/AP) - Aretha Franklin is no longer planning to attend the funeral for Whitney Houston today in Newark, N.J. because of health issues.

Franklin, Houston's godmother, had been expected to perform at the memorial service.

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Franklin tells The Associated Press she has been having foot and leg problems. She gave a concert Friday and says her legs locked up late into the night. She says she sends best wishes to Houston's relatives. Franklin is close with the family. Houston lovingly called her "Aunt Ree." Franklin says she sends her best wishes to Houston's family.

Franklin performed Friday night at New York's Radio City Music Hall and has another scheduled concert there tonight.

A revised program for Houston's service lists Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and R. Kelly among those who will sing.

Houston, who was 48, died Feb. 11 in California, the day before the Grammy Awards. About 1,500 guests, including music mogul Clive Davis, are expected to attend the private service.

A gospel choir was rehearsing in the church hours before the service, and roses and lilies surrounded the pulpit.

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by dresia February 21, 2012 8:24 AM EST: I don't know what's going on with A Franklin's health, but I hope she will be ok. Must be prettys serious for her not to have attended Whitney's funeral which is still a great shock to fans around the world.; Reply to this comment


by vicki_in_nj February 19, 2012 5:30 PM EST: I thot the funeral services were beautiful. I also felt it was awesome to have a 4 hr svc with no commercials, no interruptions, just a service honoring a gifted artist in a spiritual way. It was humbling and wonderful to experience this event. I could feel the holy spirit right thru the television.
Thank you Houston family for sharing this with everyone.; Reply to this comment


by robert1129 February 19, 2012 4:10 PM EST: I am 73 and have the same problem. It is called neuropathy(?). One day, you can be find with some discomfort in the legs but during the night, the soles of the feet burn something terrible and you have pain in your legs. Some days, I just get up and make do with mediciene and massage. Some days, I can only lay there and suffer until the pain eases up.

Franklin did the right thing by not attending. To have done so would have risked having to call an ambulence for her during the services and no one needed that.; Reply to this comment


by Marcia Manzello February 19, 2012 12:55 PM EST: The media knew before the family, as they announced her performance at the Going Home Service, they were told, she was a no-show. Hours after she canceled an appearance at Houston's service, because of spasms in her legs...she was quick on her feet, feisty in voice and sassy in spirit at Radio City Music Hall on Saturday night.
Than, she urged the crowd, twice, to go to Walmart and buy her latest record to heal. "I hope that there's something I will sing, or I have sung, that will lift all of our heavy hearts today," she said near the beginning of the show.Can we say GREEDY! IS THAT WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR?; Reply to this comment


by GHGHGHGK February 19, 2012 3:26 AM EST: I am so glad this drug addict is in the ground. So sick of hearing about her.; Reply to this comment


by 58dee February 18, 2012 10:35 PM EST: Leg Cramps! Really is this serious to miss a funeral? NO; Reply to this comment


by lin1945-2009 February 18, 2012 5:42 PM EST: Aretha disappoints . . . guess attending out of respect did not fall into convenience for Ms Franklin so she skipped the going home service for Whitney. Aretha was great at one time but she has slipped in recent years and isn't the diva she was decades ago. She owed Cissy to attend the service when she rsvp'd that she would be there.; Reply to this comment

by tmn February 18, 2012 2:37 PM EST

She's cool.

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by 58dee February 18, 2012 10:34 PM EST: What do you mean "she's cool"? She is not cool, she has NO CLASS who cares what her age is! She disappointed the family by not attending. It is not like she had heart problems, for sake she had "lef cramps" NO One should understand this.


by AAnnie52 February 18, 2012 1:48 PM EST: Cut the lady some slack, guys. She's 70 next month and has had a lot of health issues in the past year. She's under contractual obligation to perform at the concerts and I'm sure Whitney's family, performers all, understand and are no where near in such a huff as you people seem to be. We can't all live up to your superior standards.; Reply to this comment


by MilitaryRetiree February 18, 2012 1:34 PM EST: I truly enjoyed listening to Whitney Houston when she sang. She had a wonderful voice. BUT personally, I find it a bit "unsettling" that an honor, usually reserved for American heros, law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the performance of their duties, and community, state and national leaders, of having flags flown at half staff, is being given to Houston, who had a history of domestice violence, drug and alcohol abuse in her life. This demeans the honors normally given to them. Though the autopsy results have not yet been made public, I have read news articles and seen TV news and most of them creditable sources, saying saying that Xanax and alcohol was most likely the cause of her death. But, then this IS New Jersey.; Reply to this comment